Johnstone's Trade Matt Emulsion
Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsions is a variety of premium water-based paints for walls and ceilings. As proud stockists of a wide range of Johnstone’s trade paints, The Paint Shed offers brilliant white, magnolia, black or colour-matched finishes in up to 10-litre tubs for large projects.
Each product uses a different resin system to provide varying levels of durability, scrub resistance, cleanability, drying behaviour and finish consistency for many different applications.
Explore alternative Johnstone’s Trade products, such as:
Access top-quality trade products at competitive prices with The Paint Shed. Buy Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsion online now and get free standard mainland UK delivery on orders over £50.
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Johnstone's Trade Obliterate Matt Brilliant White 10LSpecial Price £97.56 £81.30 Was £114.78Saving: £17.22-15% -
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Colour Match
Johnstone's Trade Obliterate Matt Light Tinted Colour Match 10LFrom £133.04 £110.87 Was £156.53-15%
Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsion is a premium-quality interior wall and ceiling paint designed for a smooth, flat finish with excellent opacity and long-term performance.
This selection of water-based interior paints is formulated for use on everything from new plaster and plasterboard to previously painted internal surfaces.
Key features and benefits include:
Features | Why this matters |
Smooth, low-reflective matt finish | Creates a classic matt look that hides minor surface imperfections |
Water-based with low odour and low VOC | Easier and more pleasant to use indoors |
Quick drying | Touch dry in 1–2 hours and recoatable in around 2–4 hours. |
Multiple formulations | Choose from standard vinyl matt to specialist, durable variants |
Colour flexibility | Can be mixed in thousands of colours to match your decor or design plan |
*Drying times may vary depending on temperature and humidity.
These smooth, low-sheen finishes are perfect for commercial spaces, residential trade projects and any interior wall or ceiling project where a classic matt appearance is preferred.
Expert Decorator Insights
How have modern matt paints evolved compared to older formulations?
There used to be a trade-off between sheen level and durability, and there still is to some extent, but durable matt emulsion paints have come on leaps and bounds over the last decade or so. There are now several good-quality paints that leave you with a desirable low-sheen, chalky finish, but will withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic areas.
— Mike Cupit, professional decorator and founder of The Decorators Forum UK
Browse our hand-picked selection of popular finishes, including Covaplus Vinyl Matt, Flat Matt, StainAway and Soft Sheen products available. Each matt emulsion is designed for a specific type of interior use.
Johnstone’s Trade Covaplus Vinyl Matt
Covaplus Vinyl Matt is a general-purpose interior matt emulsion for walls and ceilings in low- to moderate-traffic areas. This high-opacity paint is touch-dry within one hour and recoatable within four, making it perfect for time-sensitive projects.
Our Covaplus Vinyl Matt paints are available in a range of colours and formats.
Johnstone’s Trade Acrylic Durable Matt
Johnstone’s Trade Acrylic Durable Matt is a high-performance, washable and wipeable formula, perfect for high-traffic areas. Resistant to mould, yellowing and condensation, this acrylic matt paint is well-suited for use in hotels, hospitals and spaces prone to moisture.
This formula is available in various colour options:
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Acrylic Durable Matt Brilliant White: A practical choice for kitchens, bathrooms and commercial interiors. Withstands wiping, moisture, and everyday marks.
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Acrylic Durable Matt Magnolia: A warmer-toned, creamy white ideal for residential use.
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Acrylic Durable Matt Tinted Colour Match: Get this high-performance paint in your preferred shade.
Johnstone's Trade Perfect Matt Paints
Johnstone’s Trade Perfect Matt features innovative Smooth Layer technology to reduce visible application marks, particularly in rooms with strong or directional lighting. This flat-matt finish is well-suited to moderate-traffic spaces like studies and living rooms, and is available in various colours.
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Perfect Matt Brilliant White: Suitable for large wall areas where lighting can exaggerate roller or brush marks.
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Perfect Matt Tinted Colour Match: Delivers the same mark-reducing formula with colour matching.
Johnstone’s Trade UltraFlat Matt Paints
Delivering a flat, matt finish, Johnstone’s Trade UltraFlat Matt features an ultra-fine texture, making it ideal for spot repairs and touch-ups.
Our selection is available in two colour choices:
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UltraFlat Matt Brilliant White: Ideal for areas with critical lighting.
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UltraFlat Matt Tinted Colour Match: Provides the same low-reflectance performance in your preferred colour.
Johnstone’s Trade Specialist Matt Finishes
Johnstone’s Trade Specialist Matt finishes are purpose-made for maintenance-heavy environments.
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Johnstone’s Trade Cleanable Matt: This highly durable, rich matt finish tolerates repeated scrubbing.
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Johnstone’s Trade StainAway Matt: This smooth matt finish is formulated to cover stubborn stains.
Surface | Suitable? | Notes |
Interior walls | Yes | Most common application |
Ceilings | Yes | Helps reduce glare |
Plasterboard | Yes | Use an appropriate primer if required |
Previously painted walls | Yes | Ensure the surface is clean and sound |
Bathrooms | Depends on the product | Moisture-resistant alternatives may be preferable |
Which matt emulsion is best suited to your project? Get in touch with our experienced team for product-specific advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
As official Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsion stockists, we’ve answered common questions about the products.
Drying times vary by product and conditions. As a general guide, most Johnstone's Trade Matt Emulsions are:
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Touch dry within 1–2 hours
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Recoatable in 2–4 hours
Curing times vary depending on airflow, temperature, surface porosity and paint preparation. Always check the product datasheet for product-specific guidance.
Although Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsions are water-based and low-VOC, it’s still important to maintain good ventilation.
Find practical guidance in our tips and advice section.
Johnstone's Trade Matt Emulsion is a trusted choice among professional decorators thanks to its reliable coverage, colour consistency and long-lasting finish.
According to the specifications, coverage ranges from 17m² per litre under ideal conditions, so a tin goes a long way.
Different products within the range are designed for specific applications, from new-build projects to high-traffic commercial environments. Cleanable Matt, for example, is built specifically to withstand frequent cleaning while keeping walls looking flawless in busy spaces.
Trade emulsion typically contains a higher concentration of pigments and binders than standard retail paint, providing better coverage, durability and colour retention.
This is part of why trade ranges, including Johnstone's Matt Emulsion Paint, tend to hide previous colours and surface marks in fewer coats than retail options.
Read our guide to Trade Paint vs Retail Paint for a more detailed comparison.
Johnstone's Trade Vinyl Matt offers a durable, washable finish suitable for most interiors. Perfect Matt provides a flatter, ultra-low-reflective finish designed to minimise visible surface imperfections, resulting in a genuinely flawless finish.
The effect of Perfect Matt is a natural result of the finish itself. Because matt reflects the least light of any sheen level, it's generally the best choice for disguising marks, filler patches and other wall flaws.
Yes, but washability varies by product:
Product | Washability |
Johnstone's Trade Vinyl Matt | Lightly wipeable |
Johnstone's Trade Cleanable Matt
| Enhanced stain resistance and easy cleaning |
Johnstone's Trade Acrylic Durable Matt | Up to 10 times more washable than standard emulsion |
Johnstone's Trade StainAway Matt | Washable and seals smoke, nicotine and water stains without a separate primer |
For areas exposed to frequent marking and cleaning, Acrylic Durable Matt or Cleanable Matt is usually the best choice. StainAway Matt is ideal for covering existing stains and improving durability.
Still have questions? Get in touch with our team.
Shop Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsion at The Paint Shed
The Paint Shed specialises in trade paint. We’re the UK’s leading independent trade paint supplier, offering a wide range of quality products and accessories for any job.
Why shop with us?
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Leading trade paint brands
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Colour matching and tinting services
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Free standard UK-wide delivery on orders over £50*
Order online at The Paint Shed, official Johnstone’s Trade Matt Emulsion suppliers, and enjoy 5% off your first order when you sign up to our newsletter.